melvin



(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. W. MELVIN. FIRE ESCAPE AND SCALING LADDER.

No. 482,441. Patented. Sept. 13, 1892.

In Ire 73 2 :0 7*.

m2 some FETEIIS c0, mum-mum wAsHmatun, I). c.

(No Model.) 7 6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. W. MELVIN. FIRE ESCAPE AND SCALING LADDER.

No. 482,441. Patented Sept. 13, 1892.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 G. W. MELVIN. FIRE ESGAPE AND SCALINGLADDER.

No. 482,441. Patented Sept. 13, 1892..

m5 mums PEYERS co PHI) 0., msmmncw n c N0 Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

G. W. MELVIN. FIRE ESCAPE AND SCALING LADDER.

Patented Sept. 13, 1892.

ffi/zranfiorx I Jaw.

Witrzamras;

his flii-arnqgs. V

6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Model.) D

G. W. MELVIN.

FIRE ESCAPE AND SCALING LADDER.

No. 482.441. Patented Sept. 18, 1892.

I77/zre1zi-0 r.-

6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

(No Model.)

0-. W. MELVIN. FIRE ESCAPE AND SCALING. LADDER.

No. 482,441. Patented Sept. 18, 1892.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE IVILLIAIWI MELVIN, OF DEPTFORD, ENGLAND.

FIRE-ESCAPE AND SCALING-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 482,441, datedSeptember 13, 1892.

Application filed June 8, 1892. Serial No. 435,376, (No model.) Patentedin England March 3, 1891' N 1 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE WILLIAM MEL- VIN, a subject of the Queen ofGreat Britain and Ireland, and a resident of Deptford Green, Deptford,in the county of Kent, England, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Fire-Escapes and Scaling- Ladders, (for which I haveobtained a patent in Great Britain, No. 3,810, hearing date March,1891,) of which the following is a specificaion.

The main object of my invention is to effect improvements in theconstruction of combined fire-escapes, scaling-ladders, and hose-carts;but parts of such improved apparatus may also be used in theconstruction of or in combination with other fire-escapes,scaling-ladders, or hose-carts.

In the accompanying six sheets of drawings, which illustrate a smallfire-escape or scalingladder constructed in accordance with my i11-vention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the escape with the variousparts in the relative positions which they ordinarily occupy when theescape is not in use or is traveling along the road. Fig. 2 is a plan ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross section through the line a ct in Fig. 1. Fig.4 is a side elevation of the escape with the ladders erected ready foruse. Figs. 5 and 6 are elevations at right angles to each other; andFig. 7 is a plan, to an enlarged scale, of one of the standards on theframing of the carriage.

Similar letters of reference denote similar parts throughout thedrawings.

A pair of Wheels A A are mounted upon an axletree B of such length thatthey will readily pass through any narrow passage or gateway. E is thecarriage or frame affixed to the axletree B by springs F F.

H H H are the three parts of a telescopic ladder sliding under oneanother and provided with stay lines or trusses, or constructed in anyother suitable manner. It is unnecessary to describe in detail theconstruction of these ladders; but they are preferably narrow and arenot provided with chutes.

Longitudinal timbers J J are fixed on the frame E and form a bed orcarriage 011 which the sides of the main ladder rest and slide,

as will presently be described. Small rollers K may be provided in thetimbers J .I to enable the ladder to move freely thereon. J J are metalstandards fixed on the carriage to hold the timbers J J and keep theladders in position thereon. These standards are made of the form shownin Figs. 3 and 6 to give room for the understruts and stay-lines on theladder II.

The mostimportantimprovementcontained in my present invention consistsin the arrangement for moving the ladders on the framing of thecarriage. For this purpose I employ a double-sided lever L L, which ishinged to the lower end of the main ladder H at L, and folds down flatthereon when the escape is not in use or is traveling, as shown in Figs.1, 2 and 3. Two ropes M M-one on each side-are affixed to the upper partof the lever at M. From thence they pass round pulleys NN on the frontstandards J J on the carriage, their other ends being affixed to thelower part of the main ladder H at M by means of a keyhole link and studor other suitable device. To move the ladders bodily forward on theframing, the escape is tipped till the lower end of the main ladderrests on the ground. The attendant then places one foot on the bottomrung of the said ladder and pulls the lever up by means of the rope P,attached to it. The ropes M M, passing over the pulleys NN, compel thecarriage E, with its Wheels A A, to slide back underneath the ladders,thus forcing the latter into the vertical or working position at thesame time that the lever rises. Short spikes or studs Q Q are preferablyprovided on the end of the main ladder H to obtain a firm hold upon theground. Two jointed struts R R are employed between the lever L L andmain ladder H, which when the ladder is fully raised on the carriageautomatically lock it and the lever in such position as shown in Fig.4:. To return the ladders to their former place, it is only necessary tostrike up the joints of the struts R R and fold the lever L L down, whenthe ladders will slide back on the framing into the position showninFigs. 1 and 2. Then in such position, the ropes M M prevent theladders moving on the carriage in one direction, and to lock and preventthem moving in the other direction any convenient ICQ device may beemployed. In practice, however, I prefer to use for this purpose thesimple device shown on the drawings, which merely consists of aprojection S, fixed on each side of theleverLL. When the leveris foldeddown, these projections come against the standards J, and thuseffectually lock the ladders on the carriage.

After the escape has been erected into the position shown in Fig. 4: thetelescopic ladders may be extended by any convenient means. Thearrangement I prefer to employ consists of a drum T, journaled on thefront of the main ladder H and provided with a winchhandle T at eachend. A rope U from this drum passes over a pulley U on the ladder H andis fixed to the bottom of the second ladder H. A rope V, fixed to thetop of the ladder H, passes over a pulley V on the top of the ladder Hand is fixed to the bottom of the ladder H Thus by rotating the handles'1" the ladders are simultaneously extended.

The ratchet-wheel T on the drum T, is so formed that the pawl T alwaysstops the handle T parallel with the ladders, as shown, thus preventingthe said handles fouling the standards J when the ladders are moved onthe framing.

The telescopic ladder is not necessarily made in three parts, as shown,and a single ladder of fixed length may be substituted therefor, ifpreferred.

The ladders are so disposed on the carriage that when in the positionshown in Fig. 1 their center of gravity is practically over the axletreeB, thus making the apparatus very convenient to handle.

In an escape or scaling-ladder of this class it is often convenient tobe able to remove the ladders from the carriage and wheels, and in orderto effect this rapidly I sometimes employ the arrangement shown in Figs.5, 6, and 7.

On the top of each standard J a finger W is pivoted. These fingersproject over the sides of the ladder H, as shown, and keep it in placeon the timbersJ J. Each finger is held in such position by a spring X,entering a notch in the back of the finger.

WVhen the spring is pulled out, the finger can be turned aside into theposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, and the ropes M M beingdetached at H M the ladders, with their lever L L ,can then be removedbodily from the carriage, or if the apparatus is erected against abuilding the carriage can be taken away from the ladders.

Additional studs are provided on the ladder H at M M fso that the ropesM M can be attached thereto, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4:, to actas guy-lines.

The ropes M M are provided at the ends M M with a suitabletighteningarrangement, as shown.

By my arrangement of hinging a lever to the ladder the construction isrendered so simple and effective that one man can easily operate themachine, while there are no parts likely toget out of order, and theladders, with the lever, can be instantly removed from the carriage inone piece, as before described.

Having now described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a fire-escape, a carriage or truck,standards J J, extending upwardly therefrom, a ladder or ladderssupported by said standards, a lever L, hinged to one end of the mainladder, and operating-ropes M M, attached to the lever L and extendingdirectly to and over pulleys on the front of the carriage and thence tothe main ladder, substantially as described.

2. In combination with the ladders, the supporting-frame and theoverhanging pivoted part W under spring tension, subtsantially asdescribed.

In a fire-escape or scaling-ladd er, the combination of projections S Son the lever L L with the standards J J on the carriage, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a fire-escape, the combination of the carriage or truck, thestandards J J thereon, the ladder H, supported by said standards, thelever L, provided with operatingropes M M, extending from said lever tothe ladder over pulleys on the carriage, and the additional studs M Msubstantially as described.

5. In a fire-escape or scaling-ladder, the combination, with thestandards J and the ladder, of pivoted fingers W, provided with springsX for the purpose of enabling the ladders to be readily removed from thecarriage, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

GEORGE WVILLIAM MELVIN.

Witnesses:

H. OUGHTERSON HAYMEN, ARTHUR I-IALPIN GREENE.

